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Fearing for your life every time you walk outside, every time you get behind the wheel, every time you see a police officer, every time you breathe, is exhausting. Living in a world in which your blackness and woman-ness makes you less than human -- a hypersexual, angry or subservient caricature, the constant target of catcalling, rape and assault -- is exhausting.

In order to truly make our communities safer, we must make sure that people who have served their time are able to fully and productively engage in our society -- whether through education or employment or some other constructive means.

My professor's perception was rooted in a common false meme that has followed black America since slavery -- the idea that we lack financial acumen, don't know how to build businesses, need to be told what to do with our finances, and are overly reliant on government handouts.

Wouldn't it be great to celebrate black people, just for being black? Nothing is more positive than flipping the script. Where there is oppression, we will uplift. And where there is hate, we'll inject love.

"He that is greatest among you shall be your servant." The late Nelson Mandela, former President of South Africa, modeled servant leadership in action. His leadership focused on the importance of community-building and empowering others to lead social change.

America has always relied on black forgiveness to absolve itself of white guilt. The Charleston massacre was no different. By choosing to highlight the forgiveness of the black faith community, they shifted the burden of responsibility onto the oppressed in a classic display of deflection.

When I visited Christian Love Baptist Church in Irvington, N.J. on July 19 and heard Johnson speak, six years after her son's death, it wasn't a dramatization of events it was real life. A mother poured her heart out to a congregation, which understood her pain.

While access to culturally diverse providers is low, the cost of mental health treatment remains high, which serves as an additional impediment to bridging the gap between the onset of symptoms and accessing professional care.

When I went to South Africa in 2010 to lead a creative writing club for teenage girls, I made sure to emphasize that word: club. I had never taught writing before, didn't have a teaching assistantship as I earned an MFA in nonfiction. I would not be correcting their grammar, nor assigning homework. Besides, how could I persuade girls to spend their Saturday afternoons in a writing class?

I am sorry for having even an ounce of doubt because I did not want the legacy of America's dad being black to deteriorate. I apologize for being so obsessed with that legacy that it blinded me to any wrongdoing.

Getting behind the wheel, Bland had three strikes against her. She was black, female and fearless, a combination that is antithetical to all the vaunted white-centered narratives of driving and freedom in the U.S.

While police brutality affects people of all races and backgrounds in the U.S., it's important to note that black citizens face a unique experience within America's criminal justice system, just as they've faced a unique state of affairs for centuries in the United States.

Since seeing the Sandra Bland video, I've been asking myself what I would've done if I were in her shoes. In my mind, I hear my momma telling me, "That's why I always tell you not to talk back to authority."

They are all under 30 years old and, despite their age, have attained world-class status in their fields, as well as riches, fame and respect.

Count down the Top 9 Young Lions who are making black history today and for many years to come.

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BlackVoices.com

Given that it's Black History Month, let's talk about the relationship between black philanthropy and black activism. Do you see a connection in history?

Oh definitely. I was reading a book recently about African American philanthropy and this connection to black activism. The roosts of black philanthropy were actually sparked as a reaction to slavery. Our forefathers pooled their resources to help slaves gain freedom, and also to support them once they became free. There were so many mutual aid societies, churches and schools that were established with those funds. When you look at black history, it is a lot of black philanthropy. People always talk about Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad, but a lot of people don't know that she pooled her resources with others' to establish homes and provide education after slaves became free. So it wasn't just about getting people free. She also provided those services to help people get where they needed to be.

Is Black History Month still a useful and purposeful way to celebrate our achievements?

I don't think it's bad. I think it's important and is needed. But I would like to see more of a spotlight on our living legends, people who are making history that are still living. We always seem to focus on the past. But there are so many people who are still living. We could tap into their wisdom, they could talk to youth. Like Ruth Simmons, the first black president of Brown University, and the surviving Tuskegee Airmen. We just need to broaden our scope and bring to light these hidden gems.

What is your favorite black philanthropy and who would you say is the biggest black philanthropist of all time?

I'm going to be biased because I have my own charity! My favorite black organization is mine. I founded a giving circle in 2005, which is a group of individuals who pool their monies for a given cause. It's called The Black Benefactors. We just gave out our first grants recently totaling $10,000, so I'm really, really excited, because it's been almost five long years in the making. I'm also happy to say that all the organizations that we funded are African American-led. And even though we are called The Black Benefactors, people think you have to be black to join – not true! We have members of different races.

[In terms of my favorite black philanthropist of all time], I'm not going to say a celebrity. Oseola McCarty was a woman who saved up her money for years and when she passed away she left $150,000 [to the University of Southern Mississippi] for students to further their education. She is probably the most inspirational, because she showed that you do not have to be rich in order to give back to your community. She saved up her money for years, and she did not tell anyone. She worked washing clothes. Her gift shocked everybody. That's how passionate she was about helping students.

Then there are also lesser known, but prominent, African Americans like Eddie and Sylvia Brown. Eddie Brown has donated $5 million to the Baltimore public school system [to help African American students]. At the Maryland Institute College of Art this African American couple has a building in their name – The Eddie and Sylvia Brown Center. They donated $7 million to this organization.

You profile many celebrities on Black Gives Back. Do you have a favorite story of working with a celebrity or their organization?

Now, Kanye catches a lot of flack. But I will say that when I met the staff of his foundation, they are awesome people who know their stuff. When I talked to Kanye's mother briefly before she passed, I asked her "how did you select the people to run your organization." And she said, even before Kanye became famous, he wanted to give back. He was always concerned about when they were going to give back.

The singer Mya has a foundation that is a camp for kids in DC. I went to one of their year-end celebrations. You can really tell that Mya loves what she does with the kids and is very passionate about her foundation.

What do you see as the connection between black philanthropy and our future as a community?

Black philanthropy is essential for our future. It is being predicted that by 2050 communities of color with constitute over half of the population. We definitely need to ensure now that we will have resources available for us. It's still unfortunately the case that many organizations that primarily serve African American communities are headed by whites who are not connected to communities of color. Very few of the major foundations have people of color on their boards. One that does is Target. Laysha Ward is the head of their philanthropic efforts. So we do have some that are in those very important positions. We just need to support the people and organizations in place now, and make sure that we are in control of the funds that will serve our community.

What is the connection between giving and greatness?

There is definitely a connection between giving and greatness. It's even in the Bible. Everybody has something to give. Even if you don't have money, you can use your talents. Whatever you're good at, you can use that to benefit an organization. Just using whatever you have to help others who are less fortunate than you makes you a great person. When you give, it just makes you feel better. And when you give, you will get it back.

Comments: (15)

By: Justreading on 2/09/2010 8:49PM

Black folks have always been “givers”, but I think we’ve strayed away from the importance of doing so.

Even if we don’t have the financial resources to give back due to the economy or our own personal situations, we need to give of our time, mentor young people, etc.

And I just recently learned about Eddie and Sylvia Brown. Surprising that more isn’t written about them since they’ve donated so much money to various causes. Guess I need to renew my subscription to Black Enterprise!

By: curtis on 2/10/2010 8:26AM

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Curtis Robinson hartford ct started the men's health Institite to save people life that did not have health insurance.he stated that god will not ask had much money,or cars ,homes you have, he will only ask what did you do with the gifts that I gave you.

By: Marlene Franklin on 2/11/2010 11:48AM

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Question: Is Black history month still useful and a purposeful way to celabrate our achievements? Yes.

Our history doesn't begin during slavery. Since we are the original people of the earth, we need to present our history and accomplishments prior to the American slave trade. All nations' histories, languages, belief systems, and cultures have our roots. We also need to present the history and accomplishments of our brothers and sisters throughout the world not only in America. Our people are scattered throughout the four corners of the earth into all nations. Many Blacks from other lands are immigrating to America. Together, we will be the majority in this land.

By: christina curas on 2/10/2010 1:03PM

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Hi there,

Watch a PSA with congressman James E. Clyburn Urging African Americans with diabetes to get an Annual Diabetic Eye Exam in conjunction with the diabetes Association.In recognition of Black History Month and diabetic eye disease awareness, the American Academy of ophthalmology is working to get this important message out. Here is the link to the PSA: http://www.geteyesmart.org/eyesmart/resources/releases/2010_releases/20100129.cfm

By: waymon lefall on 2/10/2010 1:16PM

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I like what I see here, but you guys never go out side the box for Black History, the likes of The first American Child Hero Jocko, He ia also in Maitland, Australia. The likes of the first Derby winners, they were Black and there were fourteen, Lest we forget-The Black Holocaust, One of the Greatest Video of all time about where we came from compared to where we are today, a different kind of slavery behind Bars not in chains, The famous DVD about The Result of Struggle, a must see.

By: C.T. on 2/16/2010 11:47AM

By: Denise Gray on 2/10/2010 5:27PM

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Tracy Webb ...... please contact me direct.....I have so much to give and share....I am writing a book titled "Abandoned"......what a page turner....and powerful tool! My book will educate; heal; and empower girls and even women impacted by the abandonment of their fathers!!!

By: Denise Gray on 2/10/2010 5:27PM

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